ONE of the most beautiful sights of Spring is the blos- 

 soming of fruit-trees, especially of cherry and apple- 

 trees, in orchards and gardens. The delicacy and fra- 

 grance of the blossoms, opening before the leaves appear, 

 and the rich profusion with which they clothe the 

 brown and rugged stems, offer a beautiful contrast to 

 the general aspect of chilliness which lingers about the 

 early spring. The early appearance of these blossoms 

 is, indeed, to the gardener almost a matter of regret j 

 for they sometimes meet with a severe check, or have 

 the young fruit nipped and destroyed by the sharp 

 frosty nights of April and May. 



The dangers of frost and blight once over, the pro- 

 mise of the Spring is richly fulfilled in Summer and 

 s 2 



